Attorney General Letitia James is celebrating the passage of sweeping legislation that modernizes New York’s consumer protection law for the first time in nearly half a century.
The FAIR Business Practices Act, advanced by James in March and sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and Assemblymember Micah Lasher, updates General Business Law §349 to better protect consumers and small businesses from modern-day scams and abusive practices.
“Too many New Yorkers are being taken advantage of,” James said. “This legislation… will help us protect working families and their wallets from predatory lenders, abusive debt collectors, scammers, and more.”
The new law targets a broad array of fraudulent behavior, including AI-driven schemes, predatory lending, data breaches, and deed theft. It also seeks to rein in deceptive tactics by student loan servicers, car dealerships, health insurers, and debt collectors.
Senator Comrie emphasized the urgency of the update, saying, “For too long, New York’s consumer protection laws have lagged behind the fast-moving tactics used to exploit our communities.”
The law grants the Attorney General’s Office increased authority to take action on unfair and abusive practices—powers that many say are essential in light of diminished federal enforcement.
Assemblymember Lasher added, “That stasis comes to a welcome end with the passage of the FAIR Business Practices Act, a critical step forward to protect New Yorkers, their pocketbooks, and affordability in our great state.”